Msgr. Lawrence J. Corcoran, P.A. has devoted much of his priestly career to charitable work, particularly caring for the poor and neglected. He worked as the assistant director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Columbus and helped found the diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was also the executive director of the National Conference of Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C.

Beginning in 1947, Msgr. Corcoran helped oversee the expanding role of the Catholic Charities organization in the Diocese of Columbus. He worked to establish the Ohio Catholic Welfare Conference, an organization that pursued state legislation to benefit the cause of the poor. Two years later, Msgr. Corcoran supported the efforts of a handful of conferences and founding member to create the diocesan St. Vincent de Paul Society. Today that society has grown to 60 conferences in various parishes with more than 1,000 members. Next, to meet the needs of children and their families, Msgr. Corcoran worked with the St. Vincent Family Center to establish the Diocesan Child Guidance Center.

As executive director of the National Conference of Catholic Charities, Monsignor Corcoran expanded the role of the conference dramatically from its basic purpose of helping the poor to an organization that became an aggressive force in combating injustice. Under his direction, the agency was reorganized to provide services to the handicapped, the elderly, troubled youths and their families. Today this agency, now called Catholic Charities USA, is one of the nation's largest social service networks.

Msgr. Corcoran, a 1935 graduate of St. Charles Preparatory School, earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1939 from the College of St. Charles Borromeo. Having completed his theological at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Cincinnati he was ordained to the priesthood on April 17, 1943.

Along with his many years of dedicated service to the poor, Msgr. Corcoran’s pastoral duties have included serving as assistant pastor at St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus (1943-1945) and as chaplain at St. Ann’s Hospital (1949-1961). He was also the editor of Catholic Charities Review, a member of the editorial board for Social Thought, and the author of many articles on current social issues.

Today, at the age of 88, and although officially retired, Msgr. Corcoran continues his dedication to helping the underprivileged and serving as an advocate for their needs. He has been honored for his social work by the Catholic University of America and Loyola University of Chicago. Msgr. Corcoran resides and assists at Holy Cross Church in downtown Columbus.

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